Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the
towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer—"the stone of help"—for
he said, "Up to this point the Lord has helped us!" 1 Samuel 7:12
To E. M., October 31, 1859.
Dearly beloved friend,
In the dear Name, "which is above every name," I once more greet you on this
memorable day. May the blessed Spirit so shed abroad the fragrance of that
name in both your souls, that you may regard the day in the Lord and to the
Lord, while you review the goodness and mercy which He has caused to pass
before you.
You, dearest friend, commemorate a birthday and a
wedding-day together; and oh! the mercy that you are born of the Spirit, and
you have had a second marriage. "Your Maker is your husband, the Lord
Almighty is his name, and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel--the God of
the whole earth shall he be called." These are personal favors of the first
order—but innumerable other benefits are this day brought to mind,
especially that the Lord provided one of the precious sons of Zion for your
companion through life. One with whom you dwell as a fellow-heir of the
grace of life, assured that though death will sever the natural union, it
can never touch your oneness in Jesus; but that, having eaten together of
the Paschal Lamb below with bitter herbs, you shall surely sit down together
at His marriage supper above, where bitter herbs shall be tasted no more.
Oh! praise Him who has dealt wonderfully with you, and said, "My people
shall never be ashamed." May He grant you much sweet communion in Himself,
and abundantly bless you and your dear children, so that not a hoof shall be
left behind.
You will recount many mercies today—but must end by
saying, "How great is the sum of them," for the total amount of the sum you
can never find out. "Praise the Lord!" (1 Thess. 5:18; Rom. 11:36) May our
precious Jesus shine on you, and in you--that your souls may be as a watered
garden, and as a well of water whose waters fail not. And may your beloved
offspring be by the Spirit gathered, one by one, into the inner circle
below, and every one of them appear in Zion above, with us also to sing the
new song, "Unto Him that loved us."
So prays, with tender love, your warmly affectionate but
unworthy,
Ruth.
1 Thess. 5:23, 24; 1 Chron. 17:27; Eph. 3:20, 21.